Pheasant's eye Toxic?

Updated 2026-03-06| 2 min read| 3,040 found this helpful

Adonis vernalis L.

All parts of the plant are toxic, with highest cardenolide concentration during flowering, and seeds containing higher toxin levels than foliage

Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal distress, breathing difficulty, and fatal heart failure in sensitive species including horses and pigs

Ruminant species have significantly lower sensitivity to Adonis vernalis toxins than monogastric species

FAQ

Is Pheasant's eye toxic to Humans?

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, potential cardiac arrest if left untreated (High)

Is Pheasant's eye toxic to Cats?

Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, reduced appetite, arrhythmia, respiratory distress, risk of fatal cardiac failure (High)

Is Pheasant's eye toxic to Dogs?

Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, irregular heart rate, difficulty breathing, possible sudden cardiac death (High)

Is Pheasant's eye toxic to Horses?

Refusal of feed, colic, gastrointestinal bloating, shock, dyspnea, death from cardiac arrest; oral irritation may be absent if dried plant is ingested (High)

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Toxicity Details

Humans

High

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, potential cardiac arrest if left untreated

Cats

High

Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, reduced appetite, arrhythmia, respiratory distress, risk of fatal cardiac failure

Dogs

High

Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, irregular heart rate, difficulty breathing, possible sudden cardiac death

Horses

High

Refusal of feed, colic, gastrointestinal bloating, shock, dyspnea, death from cardiac arrest; oral irritation may be absent if dried plant is ingested

Toxicity Snapshot

Toxic PartsWhole plant, with seeds containing higher toxin concentrations than herbaceous foliage

Exposure RouteIngestion of fresh or dried plant material, including plant-contaminated hay

Toxic CompoundsAdonitoxin; 3-Acetyladonitoxin; k-Strophanthoside; k-Strophanthoside-β; Cymarin (k-Strophanthoside-α); Strophanthidin fucoside; Strophanthidin digitaloside; Vernadigin; Adonitoxol; Other related cardenolide glycosides

First Aid & Prevention

First 30 Minutes

• Immediately remove any remaining plant material from the mouth and surrounding area to prevent further ingestion
• Induce vomiting only if the affected individual is fully conscious, alert, and not showing cardiac or neurological distress
• Administer activated charcoal if available to reduce further toxin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract

Contact Vet Immediately

• Any confirmed or suspected ingestion of Adonis vernalis, even if no symptoms are yet visible
• Appearance of symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, colic, difficulty breathing or irregular heart rate
• Known exposure of horses, pigs or other sensitive species to potentially contaminated hay or pasture

Prevention

• Inspect hay and pasture for Adonis vernalis growth to avoid accidental feeding to livestock and companion animals
• Keep the plant out of reach of small children and pets in areas where it grows naturally
• Learn to distinguish Adonis vernalis from visually similar plants to avoid accidental misidentification and ingestion

Treatment & Prognosis

• Perform gastrointestinal decontamination including emesis, activated charcoal administration, or gastric lavage as appropriate
• Administer atropine to treat bradycardia (slow heart rate) under professional medical/veterinary guidance
• Provide supportive care including strict rest, continuous cardiac function monitoring, and symptomatic treatment for pain and digestive distress

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Professional Toxicology

Scientific NameAdonis vernalis L.

AliasesFalse hellebore、Ox eye、Spring adonis、Spring pheasant's eye、Sweet vernal、Vernal pheasant's eye、Yellow pheasant's eye

Toxicity Grade

HumansHigh

CatsHigh

DogsHigh

HorsesHigh

Target Organs

HeartGastrointestinal tractRespiratory system

Mechanism of Action

• Cardenolide cardiac glycosides inhibit sodium-potassium ATPase pumps in cardiac muscle cells, disrupting normal heart rhythm and function

• Toxins also exert irritant effects on the gastrointestinal tract, causing digestive distress following ingestion

Other Species Risk (CliniTox)

Information from CliniTox veterinary text.

Cattle: Lower sensitivity to toxins compared to horses and pigs; poisoning only typically occurs after ingestion of very large quantities of plant material

Sheep: Low sensitivity to Adonis vernalis toxins; adverse effects are rare unless large volumes of the plant are consumed

Pig: High sensitivity to toxins, with high risk of severe poisoning and fatal cardiac arrest following ingestion of even small amounts of the plant

Confusion Risk

The following plants look similar and may be confused:

Carinthian buttercup Ranunculus carinthiacus

Both are low-growing yellow-flowered Ranunculaceae species found in similar grassland habitats; Ranunculus carinthiacus has smaller flowers and narrower petals than Adonis vernalis, and also contains irritant toxic compounds

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Data Sources

1. CliniTox (Universität Zürich)

This information is for reference only and does not constitute medical advice. If ingestion or poisoning is suspected, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.

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